Q&A - P4 English

[Belle2011]

S6169:

My question is following comma, should be the small letter for the \"look\".

Because you start using \" in a speech, you need to start with a capital letter L for \"look\".

[S6169]

Belle2011:

S6169:

My question is following comma, should be the small letter for the \"look\".

Because you start using \" in a speech, you need to start with a capital letter L for \"look\".

Oh, I see. :thankyou:

Then how about the answer (d) colon. Why it is not correct?

[shirley.020816tamzil]

S6169:

Belle2011:

[quote=\"S6169\"] My question is following comma, should be the small letter for the \"look\".

Because you start using \" in a speech, you need to start with a capital letter L for \"look\".

Oh, I see. :thankyou:

Then how about the answer (d) colon. Why it is not correct?[/quote]In Engligh, colon is not used for speech. Colon is used to introduce a list, a summation, or to give further information on the front part of the sentence.

e.g. My mother gave me one good piece of advice: to avoid wasting time and energy worrying about things I cannot change.
He visited three cities during his stay in the Maritimes: Halifax, Saint John and Moncton.

Hope the above info helps, I happen to check on this as well because DS asked me the same qn about colon in speech.

[shirley.020816tamzil]

Need help with Synthesis and Transformation. Understand that for Neither...nor..., if both the elements are singular, the verb to be used should be singular. But if one of the elements is plural, then the verb should be plural. Not very clear about the plural party.


For the below examples, can someone clarify if (1) is correct? I know for sure (2) is correct, not so sure about (1) and (3). :?

1. Neither my sisters nor my mother is coming for the party.
2. Neither my mother nor my sisters are coming for the party.
3. Neither my sisters nor my mother are coming for the party.

[iFruit]

shirley.tamzil:

Need help with Synthesis and Transformation. Understand that for Neither...nor..., if both the elements are singular, the verb to be used should be singular. But if one of the elements is plural, then the verb should be plural. Not very clear about the plural party.


For the below examples, can someone clarify if (1) is correct? I know for sure (2) is correct, not so sure about (1) and (3). :?

1. Neither my sisters nor my mother is coming for the party.
2. Neither my mother nor my sisters are coming for the party.
3. Neither my sisters nor my mother are coming for the party.

If only one of the subjects is plural, it should come last and the verb should also be plural agreeing with the nearest subject. So only (2 ) is correct.

HTH.

[S6169]

Thank you very much, shirley.tamzil!

[shirley.020816tamzil]

iFruit:

shirley.tamzil:

Need help with Synthesis and Transformation. Understand that for Neither...nor..., if both the elements are singular, the verb to be used should be singular. But if one of the elements is plural, then the verb should be plural. Not very clear about the plural party.


For the below examples, can someone clarify if (1) is correct? I know for sure (2) is correct, not so sure about (1) and (3). :?

1. Neither my sisters nor my mother is coming for the party.
2. Neither my mother nor my sisters are coming for the party.
3. Neither my sisters nor my mother are coming for the party.

If only one of the subjects is plural, it should come last and the verb should also be plural agreeing with the nearest subject. So only (2 ) is correct.

HTH.

Then how about the case where the subjects are 'my cousins' and 'I'. e.g.

Q. My cousins and I are unable to cook well.
A. Neither my cousins nor I am able to cook well.

Appreciate clarification on the above. Thanks.

[iFruit]

shirley.tamzil:

iFruit:

[quote=\"shirley.tamzil\"]Need help with Synthesis and Transformation. Understand that for Neither...nor..., if both the elements are singular, the verb to be used should be singular. But if one of the elements is plural, then the verb should be plural. Not very clear about the plural party.


For the below examples, can someone clarify if (1) is correct? I know for sure (2) is correct, not so sure about (1) and (3). :?

1. Neither my sisters nor my mother is coming for the party.
2. Neither my mother nor my sisters are coming for the party.
3. Neither my sisters nor my mother are coming for the party.

If only one of the subjects is plural, it should come last and the verb should also be plural agreeing with the nearest subject. So only (2 ) is correct.

HTH.

Then how about the case where the subjects are 'my cousins' and 'I'. e.g.

Q. My cousins and I are unable to cook well.
A. Neither my cousins nor I am able to cook well.

Appreciate clarification on the above. Thanks.[/quote]Hi shirley.tamzil,

I think rules 3 & 4 in the following link explain both the cases well.

http://www.grammarbook.com/grammar/subjectVerbAgree.asp

HTH.

[shirley.020816tamzil]

Thanks iFruit, the rules definitely clears any queries that I have.

[shirley.020816tamzil]

Synthesis & Transformation Question:


1. This cushion is too soft for me. That cushion is too hard for me.
Ans: Neither cushion is just right for me.

2. There are two pot of cactuses. The cactuses are dying.
Ans. Neither of the two pot of cactuses are growing.

When do we use 'of the...'? In 1, we do not need to specify Neither of the two cushion', but in 2, we need to do so. :?